Interesting. I had assumed that as the case was being reported in broadly similar terms by the Telegraph, Guardian, Independent and the BBC that at least some of these must have checked their sources. The Telegraph, even if you don't like its politics, is usually reasonably good on facts.

I still think the child should be cared for by Italian social services though.

Malc

High in the sky, what do you see ?
Come down to Earth, a cup of tea
Flying saucer, flying teacup
From outer space, Flying Teapot

Without knowing the full details, I wouldn't like to comment as to what should or shouldn't happen. These cases are horribly complex and difficult at the best of times, and this doesn't look like the best of times.

Apparently the chap who wrote the original article has an axe to grind when it comes to social services and family courts. And fact-checking is so passé, in these days of 24-hour rolling news... What probably happened is that the Telegraph printed it first, and everybody else simply reprinted it with just enough of a rewrite to avoid getting sued. There's even a term for it: "churnalism".